Using Photovoice to engage immigrant Latino youth in creating healthy communities

This presentation addresses the problem of how to effectively engage immigrant Latino youth in creating healthy communities. A Latino community-based organization (CBO) in Maryland provided Photovoice (a qualitative method) and other training to fifteen Latino immigrant youth for use in advocacy efforts to address social determinants of health in their communities. Founded in 1985 by Central American refugees and others, the CBO originally served Latinos arriving to the D.C. area after wars and civil strife in their homelands. Its mission is to work with communities to improve the quality of life and fight for equity and access to resources/opportunities for low-income Latinos. The CBO works with day-laborers, low-income immigrant communities, and organizations to make programs and activities available, and advocate for social and health justice. Using Photovoice, Latino youth are advocating to pass legislation introduced by a Latino State Senator that would allow immigrant students to attend state colleges/universities at in-state tuition rates. Youth are taking pictures to tell the stories of students and families directly affected by the lack of affordable higher education. They were also trained to use their photos in presentations to educators, business leaders, and elected officials to show contributions of immigrant youth and their potential as a trained workforce. In addition, youth use Photovoice in conducting health needs and asset assessments in their communities. The photos are then used in planning programs to address substance abuse and other public health problems among Latino youth. The CBO received capacity-building assistance from two partner organizations (another CBO that has had success with implementing system-level interventions to reduce racial/ethnic health disparities; and an applied public health research firm that facilitates Photovoice projects). CBO staff will discuss lessons learned and report on results of advocacy and planning activities.